Visiting the Christmas Market in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
Enchanting is how I would describe the Christmas Market in the medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. It was quite possibly my favorite market during a week-long visit in Bavaria, Germany during the Advent Season. It isn’t the easiest to get to, but you will be richly rewarded for making the effort.
An overview of our complete 6-Day Christmas Market itinerary can be found here.
Kath and I took the train from Nuremberg to Rothenberg as a day trip. The train ride is roughly 1 hour 45 minutes, including a couple transfers. We arrived just before lunch with the entire afternoon and evening to explore the market and wander the streets of this fairy tale wonderland.
Above photo: Old well outside Gallows Gate
The town itself is amazing to explore with all of its cobblestone streets, quaint little cafes, and historic buildings. The locals are warm and friendly (and most spoke English, which was really nice, too). We did not have any particular itinerary because the town is small enough that it can be fully walked. Sooner or later, you get around to seeing everything:)
Above photo: Gallows Gate
Above photos: Gallows Gate and Galgengasse Street, Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The Marketplatz is surrounded by historic buildings that are home to the Rothenburg Tourism Service and City Hall. It is also center of the Christmas Market, Reiterlesmarkt and the town’s Christmas tree. We spent some time walking around in the heart of all the festivities and grabbed some lunch from one of the food stalls before continuing on.
Above photos: Marketplatz, Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The market stalls sprawled down side streets, alleys, and alcoves. Where there wasn’t a stall, there was an adorable shop or a welcoming door front. We saw so many unique things here that we didn’t see at other places, including these little Duftlmännchen figurines.
Above photos: Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Market
Barely off the main market area is the Käthe Wohlfahrt store. Inside it is an explosion of every kind of Christmas ornament and decoration you can imagine, but organized by theme. There was a queue to get in the store and a strict walking-flow to help move people through. It is easy to get lost – or to lose track of the person you came in with – but great fun! Kath and I actually did lose track of each other while going through the Käthe Wohlfahrt store. Hey, it happens to the best of us!
Above photos: Kathe Wohlfhart, Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The one thing that nearly every tourist looks forward to when they visit Rothenburg, is walking down Schmiedgasse to Plönlein. This landmark area features a fountain and a yellow timber-frame house at the entrance of the Spital quarter. If it makes you fee like you are stepping into a fairy tale, you’re not alone. The site has been used as the inspiration for Pinocchio and copied by architects for various other entertainment projects.
Above photo: Plönlein, Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The main streets through Rothenburg are lined with boutiques, hotels, and bakeries that are marked with cast iron signs hanging over the entrances. The highly decorative designs are artistic as much as they are informative. Back in the day when not everyone was able to read and write, symbols and pictures were used instead of words.
Speaking of bakeries, one of the best and most famous food specialties in Rothenburg is a dessert called Schneeball, which translates to snowball. The base of the dessert is shortcut pastry that is deep fried and then covered in sugar, chocolate, nuts, and/or other toppings. We spotted them in a window at the Friedel Bäckerei on our walk back from Plönlein and HAD to try. Yum!
Above photo: Schneeball
As we continued to walk (uphill) back towards the main square, we turned down a narrow side street that led out to the city walls. The views here are stunning! There is also an observation deck called Aussichtspunkt an der Eich, but anywhere along the fortification there are vistas going out to the Tauber.
Above photos: Views from Aussichtspunkt an der Eich
The sun finally disappeared and we made our way back to the Marketplatz, now fully lit up. It was a completely different ambiance. We were glad that we had stayed after dark to experience the Christmas magic at night and a few light flurries.
Above photos: Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Market in Marketplatz
Back on the train and back to Nuremberg for a sleep before our onward journey to Strasbourg, France!
To continue to Day 4: Strasbourg Christmas Market, click here.
Need help packing? Read my Christmas Market Packing Guide here.
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